Invitations (and Save-the-Date Cards)
N.B. some variation to the below may be experienced, the process listed is to give you an idea of what to expect.
Get in touch & let’s get the ball rolling…
Nothing can happen until you drop us a line! A brief chat is the best way to break the ice and arrange a date in the diary for your consultation. We’ll then send you a form to complete and return. It’s this form that provides the key to opening the flood gates and getting the ideas flowing!
The Consultation – the most important part of the design process
Consultation is the time that we get to know you as a couple, as individual people and those quirky little details that make you oh so special! We won’t quite need your life story… your personality will be enough to ensure the designs are right for you.
Whilst we prefer to carry out consultations in our studio where examples and swatches are close to hand, we will do our best to accommodate your needs if this is not possible. This is your chance to see our previous work in all its glory as we talk through colours, themes and styles and mechanics of the stationery you love.
Covering exactly what you want, when you want it and the kind of budget you have in mind provides the guidelines needed to produce a pencilled production schedule. This schedule makes sure that you are confident that your designs can be completed with no stress and on time!
Sampling Period & Meeting*
We leave you swelling at the seams with ideas! Next we take the 3 to 4 weeks needed to let the ideas bounce off the walls!
We research themes… create image boards… try design layouts… drink a lot of coffee… source materials… and get very, VERY excited! Of course, we ask you for your opinions at every major turn as we go, whilst we won’t inundate you with emails, it is important that we get it just right for YOU.
Finally, it’s the Sample Meeting. It’s the first time you get to see the designs we’ve created and we get to see your reaction to them! More often than not, we achieve the client’s idea of “perfection” within one of the samples we create. If an idea needs tweaking or two samples need splicing together, don’t panic! You deserve perfection! We make any necessary final alterations and revisions and send a final proof for approval prior to print.
* A non-refundable deposit of £75 is required for materials in this process but panic not; it will then be deducted from the final invoice where the order is in excess of £300.
Production& Delivery
On approval of the final design, a 2 week production period is officially scheduled into the diary. At this point, 50% of the total cost of your order is required before the production can commence.
Once completed, we prefer to deliver our products in person to ensure they arrive safely. If delivery or collection is not possible, we will arrange Special Delivery services via The Royal Mail (additional fee). The remaining balance of your order is then required prior to/or on delivery.
Other “on the day” Stationery
(Including: Order of Service, Order of the Day, Place Cards, Table Name Cards, Table Plan, Message Tree Tags, Favours and other forms of stationery)
If we completed your Save-the-Date/Invitation order, the design of the remaining stationery you require will be relatively fluid and will extend from the initial design templates.
If we missed working with you on your invites, don’t panic… we can still provide you with your on-the-day stationery.
Consultation
The content of this meeting will greatly depend on whether we have worked together on your invitations or not. If we’ve not already met, a full consultation will be completed (see the ‘invitations’ consultation break down above). If we know you, expect a good natter about the wedding plans and a speedy move towards getting you some fabulous designs completed!
1st Draft Proof…and 2nd Draft Proof!
For every item you require ‘on-the-day’ we create some layouts for you to review, all of which will be sent to you electronically to proof read and make amendments where necessary.
Following any revisions being made we will send across a new set of proofs. These will be the final copy prior to any last minute changes you may have to the guest list.
Final Draft
This is it! We will set a deadline date for final amendments to be made (normally relating to your guest list). After this, your final draft will be sent for approval prior to printing.
Production
In most cases, changes to numbers and names of guests attending your event will change within the last 2 weeks prior. With this in mind, we aim to leave the printing of your stationery as late as possible. Whilst changes can be catered for, once we reach this two week deadline, your designs will be set and changes won’t be able to be made. Of course it’s worth remembering that place cards will realistically be created towards the end of this two week period and we will endeavour to do our best in ‘last minute’ situations.
Delivery
We prefer to deliver in person to you or direct to your venue (take a look at our “Venue Set-up service”). Alternatively, you may collect items and in some cases, we will arrange for a courier to deliver (additional fee).
Timescales…
Timescales for all stationery will be discussed in more detail during consultation, but to give you an idea in the meantime…
Designing totally unique stationery for each client is a time consuming and skilled process, so please do not expect to receive your products within a couple of days!
For Invitations & Save-the-Date cards… get in touch with us at least 3-months prior to the date you wish to send your invites (preferably earlier than this if possible). Whilst we may be able to deliver a product sooner, it is not worth the risk of missing out on your perfect stationery.
For ‘On-the-Day’ stationery, you may well have worked with us and so it will be scheduled in already. If you’re a new client, we prefer having at least 5-months notice of your intent to use our company, so please bear this in mind. Although production is last minute to cater for changes, the design process still needs time. Again, shorter time scales may well be possible dependant on bookings.
